Baby carriage foot extension control device



Dec. 27, 1949 BQUDREAU 2,492,209

BABY CARRIAGE FOOT EXTENSION CONTROL DEVICE Filed May 6, 1947 2Sheets-Sheet 1- Fay. 5.

IN VEN TOR.

Dec. 2 7, 1949 A. M- BOUDREAU BABY CARRIAGE FOOT EXTENSION CONTROLDEVICE2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 6, 1947 JNVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 27,1949

BABY CARRIAGE FOOT EXTENSION CONTROL DEVICE Al -ban M. Boudreau,Gardner, Mass, assi qr to d t m-Un on mp ny Ga ne M s a corporation ofMassachusetts Application May it, 1947, Serial No. 746,206

C ms.

This invention relates to improvements. in baby carriages and the like,and more particularly to improved means for closing and securing closedthe drop front or foot extension for the body of such carriages.

I he customary drop, front or foot extension for the body of babycarriages, comprises an excess of the flexible sheet wall material ofthe body at the front end, including a covered stiff board or the likewhich may be let down to provide an extra interior region into which thefeet of an occupant of the carriage may extend, with the said stiffboard constituting the bottom or floor of the foot region. At othertimes, the stiff part or floor of the foot extension may be swung upwardto a gen. erally vertical closed position with the excess of flexiblebody material folded at the inner side thereof. Heretofore, the stifffloor of the extension has been releasably held in its generally uprightclosed position by a leather strip which customar-ily is anchoredat oneend to the upper edge portion of the stiff floor portion, with means atits free end for releasably fastening the strap tothe top frame of thecarriage body, as by a snap, fastener or by buttoning the strap to thetop frame, or engaging a projection on the top frame thr u h. a ho th ster in ol.- lapsible carriages a collapsing of the carriage bod mus e Ped by a le e of he ot ext n io O rw se h st ene al y v rtical portion ofthe foot extension will interfere with the collapsing and frequentlyresults in tearing of the body fabric Hence, in collapsible babycarriages, it is highly desirable that the means for retaining the footextension in closed condition be automatically releasable in response toany initial depression of the body top frame in-the process ofcollapsing the carriage. Also, it is desirable to avoid exteriorprojections which are capable of injuring a person accidentally comingin forcible contact therewith or on which articles of clothing may catchand be torn.

It is among the objects of the present invene tion to provide closingand securing means for the foot extension of a baby carriage whichrequires no particular precision in its manufacture or m u t n n. a ar di h auto atically releases the foot extension in responseto the initialcollapsing depression of the top frame of the carriage body.

Another object is to provide for drawing the foot extension of a babycarriage to closed position and for securing it closed by means whichmay be entirely exteriorly of the carriage body or which may extendthrough a wall of the body for operation from the interior of the body.

A further object is to. provide a closing and securing means for thefoot extension of a cari se body c m r n a f ex bl t s n. e men on thfoot extens on. y which. he ot extene 2 sion may be drawn closed, andhaving spaced means along the tension element any suitably located oneof which spaced means is adapted to coact with a keeper on the body topframe for releasably securing the foot extension closed,

' and automatically releasable in response to sub-v the foot extensionof a baby carriage comprising, in the main, a beaded tension elementhaving an attractive ornamental effect ex-. teriorly of the body ascompared with the prior comparable devices which have involvedrelatively unsightly exposed mechanisms having objectionable andhazardous substantial projec-. tions thereon.

It is, moreover, my purpose and object generally to improve thestructure, operation and general appearance of devices for controllingthe foot extension of baby carriages and the like.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a collapsible baby carriage body with footextension and control means embodying features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a medial cross-sectional view on a larger scale through thetop frame and foot extension of the carriage of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the foot extension control meanslooking from the left n F g. 2

Fig. 3a, is a perspective View of the keeper element of Figs. 1-3, on alarger scale;

Fig. 3b! is a medial cross-sectional view ofthe mounted keeper elementof Fig. 30,, showing the tension element engaged therein, and showing,in dotted lines, the manual release of the tension element;

Fig. t is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing a modified form of footextension control means;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the modified form of footextension control means of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similarto Figs. 2 and 4 but having another modifiedform of foot extension control means; and

Fig. 7, is a View similar to Figs. 3 and 5 and showing the Fig. 6 formof foot extension control means.

Referring to the drawings, the carriage body shown in Fig. 1 is of thecollapsible type whose padded top frame It is depressible toward thechassis (not shown) when the pusher handle I2 is released at M and swungover upon the top, frame. The body walls [6 are of flexible fabric,which can fold in the collapsing process.

A usual foot extension indicated generally at l8, at the pusher end ofthe body, it being ShOWn by full lines in closed condition and. bydotted lines in open condition.

In the form of the invention represented in Figs. 1-3, the footextension is controlled by a,

flexible tension element 20 which conveniently may be a suitable lengthof conventional beaded chain, anchored at one end 22 to the footextension and extending through a keeper 24 on the top frame and throughthe fabric end wall 26 of the carriage body with its free end portionhanging within the body. A ring 28 at the end of the chain facilitatesmanual openings and closings of the foot extension from the interior ofthe body.

As best seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the keeper 24 may be a generallyrectangular hollow member seated under the outer marginal portion of thebody top frame ID, with the vertically projecting plate part 25'fo'rsecuring the keeper in place. The usual trim strip l-i may extend incovering relation to the plate part 25. --The *fiexible end wall 26, asshown, extends downward from the top frame In at the inner side of thekeeper 24 andhas an opening. I! therethrough for passage of the tensionelement 2DI "The" adjacent wall of the keeper also has an openingtherethrough at 3B for free passage of the tension element, and has anotch 32 extending downward from opening 30 intowhichthe linkcdnn'ectorsbetween beads of the tension element may be inserted, with abead engaged against each 'side'of the notched keeper wall. Hence" thetension element may be releasably secured to the notched wall atselected locations along the element. 7 I v Thejside of the keeperopposite the notched wallinay be open 'for free passage of the tensionelement from the foot extension to the notched wall; whence any excessof length of the tension element hangs down interiorly of the carriagebodyl' 7 I The outer end of the tension element Zil may have 'its'seourement at 22 toa plate element 23 attached to the covered relativelystiff portion. I9 of the 'foot xtension.

It is' 'a feature of manufacturing importance that it makes no materialdifference whetherthe plate 23 'is precisely located in verticalalignment with keeper 24 because the flexible tension ele- :r'nent' canextend through the keeper and effectively perform its functionsregardless of any precise relative locating of the keeper'and plate 23.Also, withthe invention, it becomes unimportant that the keeper andplate 23 may-vary as'to vertical spacing on diiferent carriages, becausethe tension'element and keeper can coact to secure the foot extensionclosed regardless of such variations. Yet, in every case, the securementof the foot extension closed is of a nature to automatically release thefoot extension in response to any substantial depression of the topframe relative to the foot extension, as in response to an initialcollapsing movement of the top frame- This automatic release is ofextreme importance in collapsible carriages to avoid interference withthe collapsing and possible tearing of the body fabric as a result of afoot extension continuing secured in closed condition when a collapsingof the carriage is attempted. According to the invention, initialdepression of the top frame releases the tension element 20 from notch32 ofthe keeper 24 and the weight of the foot extension causesit to dropto open position with the tension element riding freely through thekeeper. With the prior'non-automatic foot-ex- 4 tension securingdevices, lt frequently happens that a user of thecarriagenegleots,to-.manually release the foot extension beforecollapsing the carriage with dire consequences.

Prior devices intended to provide automatic release of the footextension have involved conspicuous exterior depending metal straps andprojecting hooks which have required precise relative positioning inorder to function properly. For example, if the coacting elements wereeven slightly misaligned, securement of the foot extension was madedifficult, and frictional rubbing of the inter-engaged elementsfrequently has been such as to interfere with a desired free-actingautomatic release. Also, unless the coacting securing means wereprecisely spaced vertically on the carriage, their coaction has beengenerally unsatisfactory. For example, if the spacingwere more than thepredetermined precise spacing, the foot extension has had to be drawnupward an extra distance with an undesirable and unsightly wrinkling ofthe body fabric.

My present invention avoids all of the mentioned undesirableattributes-of the prior footextension securing devices andin-additionprm vides an attractive and decorative addition to thecarriage which is free of any prominent, projection on which a personmaybe injured or on which articles of clothing may catch and be damaged.Also, in the Figs. l3--form,'-the foot extension may bemanually'operated and controlled from within the carriage body.

However, it will be readily appreciated the. the mentioned advantages ofthe'invention-are not limited to having the tension element extending tothe interior of the carriage body. As illustrated in Figs. 4-7,generally similar results and advantages may be attained with the automatically releasable tension securing device en tirely exteriorly of thecarriage body. Inthe Figs. 4 and 5 form, a centrally'notched hookelement is secured in depending relation-{dn'the top frame, and arelatively short beadedten'sion element 36 isconvenient1y'rrianu'allyefigageable in the notch. The hook element34need's toliav only relatively little" hook-proj ection and inafbepositioned substantially entirely I under the top frame, as shown inFig; 4. rn rsmsnawu Figs/6 and 7 is"gene'ra1ly sifnilar "'to' thefFig 4and 5 form but haVin'gaEhoQk element which the tension element 36 ilslater i gageable. In both modifications? howe've, the beaded tensionelement 36 bec'dme's a om'at'ically disengaged in response to depressio"of top frame I I! relative'to the footjfextens ionf Referring moreparticularly *toi the Fi form,--as shown in detail onalarferisc Figs. 3aand 3b,'the rectang ar member 24 has a large rectanghla in its wellthrough which th bgl dd 'ch alifi' llt 7 the keeper from its point 22 ofsecure'ment d the foot extension 18." The opposite wall' of" the keeper"member 24 has the opening 30and n otc h 32 therein which together forma keyl oleslot as best seen in Fig. 3a. Notch} 32 i and shallow andgwhenthe chain" 4 tained condition, the retaining teaa-,--inq1aaa' at 2|'in'Fig. 3b, is tightly drawn intdfribtiorial engagement with the edges,of 'thenotch '3g2while' the bead 2 l" atthe op' Q- itejside 'oftlienotche'd wall is tending to move away fromthe wall: Actually theadjacent'bea'ds, such as beads 21 2'! in Fig-. 3b, are spaced apartslightlymore-than e pih l sb i f 'i qt d a ege a ieichain-link"connector to "-'-readily'"ehte1'tlie iititch' .aeoazoe 32,and also to permit slight yielding of bead 2| toward the notched wallwhen the free end of the :chain is manually lifted and drawn tight, withaccompanying relievingof the friction between bead 2i and the notchedges. Apparently, as the manual pull on the chain is continued withsimultaneous lifting of the gripped free end portion thereof,.the beadZl'f. rides ,:up the notched .Wall to permit elevation of the linkconnector out of the .notch 32 without the gripped portion of the chainbeing elevated enough to engage the .inward projecting portion of thetop frame of the carriage body; this movement of bead 2i slightly towardthe notched'wall and appreciably upward along the slot edges-effectingincrease of tension in the portion ofthe chain between the keeper andthe foot extension l8. When the link connector has been elevated out ofnotch 32, and the chain released, the gravity drop-of the foot extensiondraws the chain rapidly through the keeper :with thexbeadsr-iding. overthe entrance. to notch. 32.cso. rapidly thatLaJink connecton-hasflnoopportunity to drop into the notch.

Automatic release of the chain from keeper 24, in response to collapsingof the carriage, oc- ,curs, as aresult of reduced tension in the chainwhich is due to sudden downward movement of the keeper and a slightdelay in downward swinging of the foot -rest, dueto inertia of thelatter. During this moment of reduced tensionin the h n;- the eadli'...i, 3l P Y no o d p a hel ink,c nnec or a 2 pwa ly; u h for the...bee s1' 9 ride, O r the notch; edges wh en the fo extension swings ewndbrsreyitr, -PHdEiPPlYfi ment o upward nudging of bead 2| is due toinertia of the chain although the chain, or a portion thereof adjacentto bead 2|, seems to stiffen and act as a bead-displacing strut when thebody is suddenly moved downward in the collapsing process. In any event,the chain becomes automatically released in response to downwardcollapsing movement of the carriage top frame, and the beads slipthrough the keeper when the foot extension drops.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a baby carriage having a body including an openable and closablefoot extension at one end of the body, said foot extension beingflexibly connected along its lower generally horizontal edge to the wallof the body at said one end, and there being a folded excess of aflexible portion of said body wall connected to the upper edge portionof the foot extension, whereby the foot extension tends to open downwardby gravity, means for controlling the foot extension comprising aflexible tension element secured at one end to the foot extension, akeeper element secured to an upper portion of the carriage body at thefoot extension end thereof, said keeper having a notched wall in whosenotch the said flexible tension element is engageable, and a series ofspaced-apart abutments on said tension element selectively engageablewith the edges of said notch on that side of the notched wall which ismore remote from the foot extension, for effecting a releasablesecurement of the tension element in the keeper element thereby tosecure the foot extension releasably in selected positions with the footextension tending by gravity to a fully open position and therebyexerting a normal tension on said tension element, said securement ofthe tension element being readily manually releasable in response topull applied to the free end portion of the tension element, followed byrelease of said free end portion, and being automatically releasable inresponse to depression of the keeper element relative to said footextension, a said; depression of the keeper element momentarily reducingthe tension in said tension element, due to the inertia of the footextension, whereby the tension element becomes free to slip, pastethekeeper element when-the foot extension drops by gravity toward its saidfully open position.

, 2. In a baby carriage having a body including a top frame portion andan openable and closable foot extension portion at one end of" the body,

said foot extension being flexibly connected along .of said portions, akeeper elementsecuredto the other of, said portions, said keeperhavingqa notched wall in whose notch the saidflexible ten,- sion elementis engageable, and a.;series of spacedapart abutments on said; tensionielement selectively engageable with :theedges of said; notch on thatside of the notched wall which is more, re-

mote from the foot extension, for efiecting a'releasable securementofthe ,tension element in said keeper element therebyto secure the ,footextension releasably in selected, positions with the foot extensiontending by gravity to a fully open position and thereby exertinga normalten sion on said tension element, said securement of the tension elementin the keeper being readily manually releasable in response to pullapplied to the free end portion of the tension element, followed byrelease of said free end portion, and being automatically releasable inresponse to depression of the keeper element relative to said footextension, a said depression of the keeper element momentarily reducingthe tension in said tension element, due to the inertia of the footextension, whereby the tension element becomes free to slip past thekeeper element when the foot extension drops by gravity toward its saidfully open position.

3. In a baby carriage having a body including a top frame portion and anopenable and closable foot extension portion at one end of the body,said foot extension being flexibly connected along its lower generallyhorizontal edge to the wall of the body at said one end, and there beinga folded excess of a flexible portion of said body Wall connected to theupper edge portion of the foot extension, whereby the foot extensiontends to open downward by gravity, means for closing the foot extensionand for releasably securing it closed, comprising a, flexible beadedtension element attached at one of its ends to one of said portions ofthe body, a notched element attached to the other of said portions ofthe body, said tension element being engageable in said notched elementwhen said foot extension is closed, with two adjacent beads on oppositesides of the element and with the foot extension gravity-urged to openposition and applying a normal tension to the tension element, means forcollapsing movement of said top frame portion of the body toward saidfoot extension portion thereof whereby the tension on said tensionelement is substantially decreased below said normal tension,

said tension element being adapted to release it-- self from saidgrooved element in response to a said collapsing movement of the topframe portion and the said decreased tension, thereby to free the footextension for a gravity-opening thereof.

4. In a collapsible baby carriage having a body including a top frameand a bottom of which the top frame is depressible toward said bottomfor a collapsing of the carriage, a foot extension for the body at oneend thereof including a relatively stifif portion which is swingablebetween a closed position in which it stands generally vertical and anopen position in which it constitutes a generally horizontal extensionof said bottom of the body, means for closing the foot extension and forreleasably securing it closed, comprising a flexible beaded tensionelement attached at one of its ends to said swingable relatively stiffportion of the foot extension, a keeper element attached to said topframe of the body and including a portion having a notch therein inwhich a portion of said tension element extending between adjacent beadsmay be engaged with said adjacent beads on opposite sides of saidnotched portion of the keeper, said tension element being automaticallyreleasable from its said engagement in the keeper in response to anysubstantial depression of said top frame relative to said bottom of thebody.

5. In a baby carriage having a body including a top frame and anopenable and closable foot extension at one end of the body, meanshingedly connecting the foot extension along its lower generallyhorizontal edge to the wall at said one end of the body, whereby thefoot rest can open downward about said hinge connection, means forcontrolling said foot extension comprising a flexible, beaded tensileelement attached at one of its ends to said foot extension; a notchedkeeper element attached to said top frame and over which said tensionelement extends, there being an opening through the adjacent end wall ofthe carriage body and said tension element extending through saidopening with a substantial free end portion hanging loosely within thecarriage body, said hanging portion within the body being manuallyactuatable to draw the foot extension closed and to engage a portion ofsaid tension element in said groove of the keeper to maintain the footextension closed with a normal tension on the tension element and withthe foot extension inclined and tending by gravity to open, and saidengaged portion of the tension element being releasable from the keeperin response to a substantial decrease of the tension thereon below thesaid normal tension thereby to free the foot extension for an openingmovement thereof.

ALBAN M. BOUDREAU.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,510,908 Wait Oct. 7, 19241,685,048 Gagnon Sept. 18, 1928 1,758,431 Crannel May 13, 1930 2,025,377Crannel Dec. 24, 1935 2,210,071 Feldman Aug. 6, 1940

